The world’s smallest working fuel cell has been created. It measures a paltry 3mm across.
Worlds_smallest_fuel_cell_01 Generates 1mA of current
A researcher at the University of Illinois, where the 3 x 3 x 1mm hydrogen-fuelled “micro fuel cell” was developed, said it’s able to generate power without consuming any itself, …

Not bad at all

"Generates 1mA of power"

No it doesn't!

It sources 1mA of CURRENT if you like, but the power is dependant on the potential difference across which is can push that much current. According to the article they have a 0.7V p.d. so that's 0.7mW of power.

At the suggested 30hours of life, this gives 21mWh of energy. This compares well with an SR63 Silver Oxide watch battery, of 5.8mm dia and 2.1mm thick, also with a capacity of 21mWh

@Davie

"The first designs generated 0.7 volts and a current of 0.1 milliamps for 30 hours before the fuel ran out, but Moghaddam says the latest designs give currents of around 1 milliamp at a similar voltage," from the linked article. Also "That bulky fuel takes up a lot of room and so the power density falls. But measured as a volume, the power density of the new fuel cell is a relatively high 100 watts per litre, he says."

Cool work. It should be interesting to see how it develops. Of course the other big question is the cost of production, and how much energy is consumed in producing the fuel cell.

@Ken

Power is, of course, measured in Ballmers per Jobses, with Ballmer providing the current (measured in units of office furniture) and Jobs providing the potential (measured in terms of iProducts shipments)

And 10l of low-pressure hydrogen per tank? That's a big car, methinks!

@Edwin

@ Tom Chiverton

It could consume the raw materials required for its internal reactions to occur until it ceases to generate power, all without consuming any external power. I believe that's what the sentence is saying. I don't see a reason to look at it any other way.

@Pierre

"the canisters probably actually contain hydrogen in its liquid form"

Not likely, as I don't see a bunch of insulation surrounding them (liquid hydrogen is one of the coldest cryogens).

It's much more likely that the hydrogen gas is adsorbed under pressure onto the surface of some material within the tank, and is released back by the pressure reduction as some of the gas is drawn from the tank as it's used.

Wow 0.7 mW

@ Ken Hagan - bollocks excuse.

If The Reg can't find a staff member that can tell the difference between current and power then I suggest they stay the fsck away from reporting anything about electiricy etc. The whole article just look like a cut and paste out of a blog.